Los Angeles, CA Restaurant Blog

If you are ever in the Glendale area, be sure to visit Frida Mexican Cuisine on South Brand Street. This restaurant was very modern with large, stylish columns strewn throughout the eating area. The food, of course, was delicious. Frida serves authentic Mexican cuisine such as the tacos de cochinita pibil I tried (see photo). The modern style of the place and the food weren't the only things I liked about this restaurant. They had plasma TVs turned to my favorite sporting event - international soccer!

This is a great hang out place to let loose after a long day of hard work. The bar is excellent and the staff friendly. Keep it in mind if you are ever in the Glendale or Burbank, California area.

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Happy Halloween Everyone!

Although not technically a restaurant, this well-known taqueria is well worth the trip to East Palo Alto. Three Brothers Tacos, located in my hometown of East Palo Alto, California, has been around since I was a child (a testament to their good food!). Originally located where the exit to Ikea now stands, the taqueria is now located on University Avenue, in the heart of "EPA".

My favorite dish is the "Torta al Pastor" or "Sandwich, Shephard Style." What makes this torta unique, is it's fresh ingredients including a substantial serving of avocado (my favorite fruit. Yes, it's a fruit.) You can find other dishes at Three Brothers that are unique to the gastronomy of Michoacan, a Mid-Western state in Mexico. These dishes include Morisqueta (pork over rice with beans and chili), and enchiladas, Michoacan style (tortillas fried in tomato sauce with fried potatoes and chicken on the side, sprinkled with fresh grated cheese.)

If you are in a hurry, Three Brothers Tacos also has a taco truck (pictured above) that is always parked on the corner of Bay Road and Pulgas Avenue during business hours.

Please click here for BooRah's profile of the taqueria.

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Redwood Shores, CA, has a secret that is well known among its locals. The secret is Mistral Restaurant and Bar. Hidden among Oracle and other Redwood Shores businesses, it is not the best placed restaurant in the world, but well worth the search.

Mistral offers Mediterranean Cuisine with an American flair. The restaurant is situated on the Redwood Shores lagoon which makes it a great spot for a romantic dinner with your significant other. The Oak Fire Baked Paella is a must for seafood lovers! Give it a shot and let us know what you think.

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Headed to Mexico City? Be sure to head over to Villa Maria in the city's Polanco neighborhood. Villa Maria offers quality regional Mexican food in a great setting. As you drive up to the restaurant, complimentary valets will greet you and direct you up a flight of stairs to the restaurant. You will arrive to the sound of Mariachi music and quick friendly service. (Click here to see a video of the mariachi and of the ambiance.)

This restaurant is highly recommended not only because of their authentic food and music but also because of the restaurant's unique atmosphere. You will find many phrases on the walls throughout the restaurant that are meant to produce a laugh. One such phrase states, "Potatoes and great mother-in-laws are only produced while covered in dirt." This is a serious restaurant that doesn't take itself as such. This only helps to assure you have a great time.

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Most of those who know me understand that one of my favorite pastimes is dining at great restaurants. This is the inaugural post for restaurants... a topic that I know will be revisited often.

Shalizaar, a Persian restaurant on the San Francisco Peninsula, can only be described as adventurous. Although not a connoisseur of Persian food by any sense of the imagination, I can confidently recommend Shalizaar because of their great food, friendly staff and great ambiance.

Having told my waiter that my fiance and I were new to Persian food, he quickly recommended a few dishes that were good for "beginners." We quickly ordered up a few appetizers, the Kashk-e-Bademjan (pureed eggplant with mint) and Mast-o-Khiar (Persian yogurt with diced cucumbers.) The Kashk-e-Bademjan mixed with sauteed mint went well with the taftoon (Persian flat bread.)

While slowly devouring our appetizers, we scanned the menu and decided to order some kabobs. I played it safe by ordering a shish kabob. My fiance ordered the Joojeh (marinated chicken). I have not had a juicier steak in all my life! The Joojeh was just as succulent.

We finished the meal with another must have Shalizaar dish; Bastani. What makes Bastani so great is that they mix Saffron right into the ice cream! For ice cream lovers, this is a must have! The ice cream alone would have made my day.

The owners of Shalizaar give their guests a wonderful experience. Best of luck to them and their continued success!

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